Data Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2015

Tuesday, 3 February 2015

Ceisteanna (409)

John Halligan

Ceist:

409. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken by his Department since his rise to the position of Minister to ensure that data protection issues are eradicated from the PCRS; his views on serious flaws within the medical card system which need to be immediately addressed; how an official review form forwarded to a medical card holder, which was apparently automatically generated from details held on file, could contain the personal details of a complete stranger as a spouse and three completely unrelated dependent children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4396/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.